Exhaust-box for cans.



A. J. & H. KEAST.

EXHAUST BOX FOR CANS.

APPLIOATION FILED Amm, 1912.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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WITNESSES A. J. & H. KEASTQ EXHAUST BOX FOB. CANS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.'7, 1912.

1 74,869, Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

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2% ATTORNEY rrnn STATESPATENT ost ich,

ALFRED .romv KEAST AND ransom) KEAST, or SAN Josn, CALIFORNIA, AssIcNons T CALIFORNIA FRUIT CANNEBS ASSOCIATION,

CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

or SAN ranncrsco, CALIFORNIA, A

EXHAUST-BOX FOR CANS.

Specification of letters Iatent;

Application filed August 7, 1912. Serial No. 713,903.

is, expelling the air from the filled, but still open cans, prior to capping or sealing them, after which they are subjected to the sec- 0nd or final cooking. These devices are from their function usually termed exhaust-boxes The object of our invention is to provide a compact apparatus in which the cans may, nevertheless, be carried through a relatively long course to give sufficient time for the purpose sought.

To this end our invention consists in the novel exhaust-box which we shall now fully describe by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan of our exhaust box, the cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical-sectional view of the same with the cover in place. 3 is a vertical section on the line w-m of Fig. 1, looking outwardly in .the direction of the traveling conveyor 12.

1 is a supporting column which carries the radial arms 2, in the extremities of which is mounted the circumferential band 3, supporting the cover 4. In socket blocks 5 of the arms 2 are'seated balls 6, upon which are supported the rings 7. These rings may be.

in number to suit; We have here shown five. They are independent of each other and form a horizontally disposed series which constitutes the floor of the box. rotation imparted to them, adjacent ones rotating in relatively opposite directions. To effect this there is carried in bearings 22 on arms 23 supported by the column 1, a

shaft 8 with a pulley 9. Upon the shaft 8'. are pinions 10, two on one side and three on.

the other side of the center of the ring series. Under each ring 7 is an annular gear 11 meshing with the respective shaft pinions. This arrangement provides for the rotation above mentioned. -Upon the exterior of the ring series and tangentialthereto is a travel- The rings have ing conveyor 12-. Above the ring series and radially directed is a feed can-pathway 13. This pathway at its outer end communicates with theconveyer 12, and at the point of communication is a rail 1a which is disposed to deflect the cans 15, in procemion, from the conveyer into the pathway 13. At its inner end the pathway 13 communicates with the innermost ring 7 of the ring series.

16 are two separated radially directed endless traveling belts set on edge. The

adjacent courses of these belts bound the pathway 13 and move from circumference to center. These courses are pressed inward by springs 25 against the cans and they direct said cans through the pathway 18 and deliver them to the innermost ring 7. The outer courses of the belts 16 move from center to circumference.

Suspended by hangers 17 from overlying arms 24 are can-guardrails 18which separate the rings 7. These rails are made to serve the additional function of heaters and for this purpose they are made of pipes which are perforated, in order to admit steam furnished them by suitable steam connections 19, to the inclosure formed by the cover and the ring-series. The rails 18 are not continuous. Each terminates at one end or the other sufficiently short of the outward moving courses of theradial belts 16, to leave spaces 20, of communication from one ring to the next ring, the arrangement being such that the space from the inner ring to the second ring is on one side of the radial feed pathway; the space fromsaid second ring to the third is on the other side of said pathway the space from the third to the fourth is on the first side, and so on, this arrangement being thus consistent with the relatively reverse rotation of the rings so that the cans may be continuously advanced.

It will be seen that one border of each inter-' ring communicating space 20 is an adjacent portion of the outmoving course of one or the other of the belts 16 so that the cans are brought into contact with these portions and by them are deflected through the spaces from-one rin -to the other. Deflecting rails 21 serve to irect the cans from the outermost ring to the tangential conveyor 12 by which they are carried off.

' The operation of the device is as follows :The cans 15 in procession are car- Patented car. '2, tore.

ried forward by the oonveyer 12 until,

meeting the rail 14, they-are deflected into thepathway 13. In this they are directed by the inward moving courses of the belts 1.6 to and are delivered upon the innermost ring 7 of the ringseries. Upon this ringthey are carried around in one direction until they reach the first communicating space 20. Here meeting the outward moving course of the belt 16 on that side they are deflected upon the second ring,

'in the first direction, and so on until, ar-

riving at the rails 21, they are finally de-' flectecl to and upon the conveyor 12 by which they are carried oif.

Steam admitted to the hollow perforated guide-rails 18 serves to heat the inclosure.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is- 1. In an exhaust-box, the combination of a series of horizontally disposed concentric independent rings; means for rotating adjacent rings in relatively opposite directions; means for feeding the cans to one of the terminal rings of the series; means for dis charging the cans from the other terminal ring of the series; means for automatically transferring the cans upon the completion of their travel with one ring to the next ring throughout the series; means for covering said rings to form an inclosure for the cans; and means for supplying heat to said inclosure.

2. In an exhaust-box, the combination of a series of horizontally disposed concentric independent rings; means for rotating adj acent rings in relatively opposite directions; means for feeding the cans to the innermost ring of the series; means for discharging the cans from the outermost. ring of the series; means controlled by the feeding means for automatically transferring the cans upon the completion of their travel with one ring to the next ring throughout the series; means for covering said rings to form an inclosure for the cans; and means for supplying heat to said inclosure.

3. In an exhaust-box, the combination of a series of horizontally disposed concentric independent rings successively communicating alternately on either side of a radially directed infeeding can pathway; means for rotating :adjacent rings in relatively opposite directions; means for discharging the cans from the outermost ring; a radially directed infeeding can pathway to the innermost ring; means for feeding the cans through said radially directed infeeding novasoe pathway to the innermost ring, said feeding means being adapted at the communications of the rings with each other to automatically transfer the cans from one ring to the next ring throughout the series; means for covering said rings to form an'inclosure for the cans; and means for supplying heat to said inclosure.

4. In an exhaust-box, the combination of a series of horizontally disposed concentric independent rings; means for rotating adjacent rings in relatively opposite directions; means for directing the cans to the innermost ring of the series comprising a pair of separated endless traveling belts radially directed relative to the ring series, the adjacent courses of said belts moving from circumference to center of said ring series and adapted to advance the cans between them, and the outer courses of said belts moving from center to circumference of said ring series; fixed guard rails for the cans separating one ring from the next ring, said rails terminating short of the outward moving courses of said beltsalternately on opposite sides thereof. to leave alternate spaces of communication for the cans from one'ring to the next ring, said spaces having for one boundary the outward moving course of one belt or the other-belt alternately whereby the cans by contact with said courses are transferred through said spaces from one ring to the other successively; means for covering said rings to form an inclosure for the cans; and means for supplying heat to said inclosure.

5. In an exhaust-box, the combination of a series of horizontally disposed concentric independent rings; means for rotating adj acent rings in relatively oppositedirections; means for directing the cans to the innermost ring of the series comprising a pair of separated endless traveling belts radially directed relative to the ring series, the adjacent courses of said belts moving from circumference to center of said ring series and adapted to advance the cans between them, and the outer courses of said belts moving from center to circumference of said ring series; fixed guard rails for the cans separating one rin from the next ring, said rails consisting o perforated pipesterminating short of the outward moving courses of said belts alternately on opposite sides thereof to leave alternate spaces of communi- 6. In an exhaust box, the combination of a series of horizontally disposed concentric independent rings; means for rotating adjacent rings in relatively opposite directions; a conveyer for the cans exterior to the ring series and tangentially directed relative thereto; a feed pathway for the cans radially directed from circumference to center of the ring series, said pathway communicating at its outer end with the tangential can conveyer; means at said communication to defleet the cans from the conveyer into said pathway; means bordering said pathway for directing the cans therethrough to the innermost ring of the series comprising a pair of separated endless traveling belts with their adjacent courses moving inward and receiving the cans between them, and their outer courses moving outward; fixed guardrails for the cans separating one ring from the next ring, said rails leaving spaces of inter-ring. communication for the cans on alternate sides of the outward moving courses of the belts, said spaces having for one boundary said outward moving courses whereby the "cans by contact therewith are transferred from --one ring to the other successively; means fordeflecting the cans from the outermost ring to the tangential conveyer at a point beyond the canfeed pathway; means for covering the rings to form an inclosure for the cans; and means for supplying heat to said inclosure.

7. In an exhaust-box, the combination of I a series of horizontally disposed concentric independentrings; means for rotating adjacent rlngs in relatively opposite directions; a conveyer for'the cans exterior to the ring series and tangentially directed relative thereto; a feed pathway for the cans radially directed from circumference to center of the ring series, said pathway communicating at its outer end with the tangential can conveyer; means at said communication to deflect the cans from the conveyer into said pathway; means bordering said pathway for directing the cans therethrough to the innermost rin of the series comprising a pair of separate endless traveling belts with their adjacent courses moving inward and receiving the cans between them, and their outer courses moving outward; fixed-guard-rails for the cans consisting of perforated pipes separating one ring from the next ring, said rails leaving spaces-of inter-ring communication for the cans on alternate sides of the outward moving courses of the belts, said spaces having for one boundary said outward moving courses whereby the cans by contact therewith are transferred from one ring to the other successively; means for deflecting the cans from the outermost ring to the tangential conveyer at a'point beyond the can-feed pathway; means for covering the rings to form an inclosure for the cans; and means for supplying heat to said perforated guard-rail pipes.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED JOHN KEAST. HAROLD KEAST.

Witnesses:

J. C. MARTIN, D. CERRUTI. 

